Warp uniting mechanism



Nov. 11, 1952 R. P. DRAKE WARP UNITING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Filed Aug. 51, 1948 INVENTOR. Russell P .Dra/fe ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1952 R. P. DRAKE 2,617,173

WARP UNITING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 51, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 DIRECTION OF TRAVEL INVENTOR. Russell P Dra/fe ATTORNEYS Nov. 11, 1952 R. P. DRAKE WARP UNITING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug 31, 1948 INVENTOR. Russell P Dra/(e ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 11, 1952 WARP UN ITING MECHANISM Russell P. Drake, Caledonia, 111., assignor to Barber-Colman Company, Rockford, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 31, 1948, Serial No. 47,115

The invention pertains to a mechanism for tying warps and has particular reference to a tying mechanism especially adapted for use in connection with a warp knitting machine. In such machines, the warp beam constituting a source of supply for the yarn periodically becomes exhausted so that it is necessary to sever the running strand from the exhausted beam and to unite the ends to the ends on a new beam.

With the foregoing in View, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a warp tying mechanism capable of operating at high speed and yet with a high degree of certainty to tie the thread ends of a new warp to the ends of the old warp after having severed the same from the whole warp beam.

A further object is to provide a simple and effectual warp tying mechanism arranged for operation upon old and new warps the threads of which are held in closely spaced parallel relation with threads from the respective warps arranged contiguously in pairs, and the paired strands operated upon in successive cycles of a tying means advancing continuously and at a uniform rate across the two warps.

Another object is to provide a tying mechanism of the character set forth in which each pair of strands to be tied is first separated from the remaining pairs by a separator moving transversely of the warps and then carried to a knotter device in timed relation to the travel of the tying mechanism.

In warp knitting machines it is common to employ drop wires on the strands running to the knitting needles for the purpose of detecting the breakage of the strands. A further object of the present invention is to provide a warp uniting mechanism operative upon the paired strands in a manner such as to avoid rethreading of the strands running to the knitting needles through the drop wires.

The objects of the invention thus generally stated together with other and ancillary advantages are attained by the construction and arrangement shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a warp tying mechanism embodying my invention constructed and arranged for association with a warp knitting machine, the mechanism being viewed from its outer or forward side.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the improved warp uniting mechanism shown in Fig. 1, but with certain covers removed to expose the mechanism.

16 Claims. (CI. 28-49) Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the tying mechanism with portions broken away and other portions of the supporting frame shown in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear side elevational view of the warp uniting mechanism and illustrating in particular the operation of stripping the tied strands from the knotter.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating a disengageable driving connection between the warp tying mechanism and its supporting frame.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view illustrating the strand separating means together with means for carrying the separated strands to the knotter and for stripping the united strands from the knotter.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view illustrating the construction and mode of operation of a thread guiding means forming part of the tying mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view partially in transverse cross section, illustrating a means for operating on the tied strands to prevent entanglement.

The improved tying mechanism is shown for purposes of illustration in connection with a warp knitting machine. It will be understood, however, that such mechanism may well be capable of other uses and its utility is therefore not confined to such machines.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 8 of the drawings, means is provided for supporting pairs of strands a and b at longitudinally spaced points with the strands arranged in closely but uniformly spaced relation so as to form-in effect a substantially flat sheet s (Fig. 6). As herein shown, the supporting means comprises in one instance, a front clamp l0, and in the other a smooth flat bar H with which is associated a comb generally designated l2, for positioning paired strands in closely spaced relation. The supports I!) and H are mounted upon frame members I3 and Na adapted to be supported in any suitable way upon a warp knitting machine.

The comb [2 may be of any suitable or preferred construction. As shown it comprises a bar 14 secured to the frame member l3a and carrying a series of thin fiat reed elements to form uniformly spaced dents for the reception of the paired strands. To position the strands in the dents of the comb in uniformly spaced relation, I provide a ribbon bar Ma mounted on the bar H for movement by a hand lever Mb. The bar Ma is serrated for engagement with the strands so that movement of the bar carries the strands against the comb teeth forming the right hand side of the dents as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Secured to the frame members [3 and 13a are plates 55 and I6 providing tracks upon which is supported a carriage, generally designated I1, for the tying mechanism, the arrangement being such that the carriage is supported upon the tracks [5 and (6 for traveling movement transversely of the strands supported by the barll and clamp Hi. In the present instance, the strands are yieldably held by the clamp It). The latter is therefore in the form of the well-known plush clamp, comprising twoclamping-blocks l8 and i9 of which the lower one rests upon the frame member l3, the two blocks being secured to the frame member l3 by means of spring :clips 20.

As shown in Fig. 1, the strand a constituting a thread of the old Warp leads rearwardly from 4 the" warp tying mechanisr'ntothe needles of-the knitting machine. v 'wardly'from thebar II to-the new Warpbeam The strand b leads down- (not shown). It will be understood that'fp'reliminary to the -tying operation, the old warp represented by the strand 5a in Fig. l is severed from its warp beam when the-latter approaches the point of exhaustionand the ends secured in the clamp l 'together with thestrands -of the new-warp represented by the strand b with-the 'strandsof the two warpsarranged inthe'dents of the comb 12 so as to be positioned by the latter In Fig. l, I have shown somewhat-schematically a drop wire z l-slidable vertically on-a bar 22 and apertured for-the passage of strand a.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the mechanism carriage l1 incorporates a drive-means for advancing '.the same continuo'usly-and' at a uniform rate as well-as for'actuatin'g the various elements of the -tying mechanism. This drive meanscomprises,

in general, a driven shaft 23 having on -the one hand -a gearing connection with the drive-shaft of 1 an electric motor 24, and onthe 'other hand a gearing connection with ia' 'drive gear 2 meshing with a: rackfZEa on the frame. 'The'shaft 23 also constitutes 'thexdriver for-the various elements of the tying -meansincluding a-rotary .tying bill-26, :a strand .pick'ing -or separating device*.2l operative in successive cycleslto engage a pair of strands'to shift. themuout of the plane therein: downwardly) of the warps, means *ineluding-impair ofiarms 28 and 29iforseizi'ng and moving .the separated :strands-rearwardly into proper position with respecttoxthe tying'fbi'llflfi, sand; meansincluding :a" stripper devicezSfl operative when thepstrands'have'been:tied together to strip the knot from the tying bill.

:In :the present illustrative embodiment, 'the carriage H .compris'es'za; frame-i3 I zequipp'e'dwith rollers 32-.enga gingzthe track-membersrlS and t6, the latter being :provided L'With'Ta fE 'GOVB .533 for thereceptionof. the :rollers' on: the; rear side 'of .the mechanism so asato guide the carriage in ::a rectilinear "path. Adjacent the "groove-:33 is: a rib 34 cut to: form *ther'ackgzfia :withwhich meshes the carriage drive :gear '25 (Fig. 3) ithe latter :beingmounted o'n'a shaft-35. suitably journalled inthefra'merfl. Gearc constitutes'the terminal element :of ass'peed-reducing: gear-:train, of which the other terminalr element: is in :the form of .a pinion 31; on' the-drive;-shaft-xofnmotor 24. -In-rthe present instance; pinion 3 Trmeshes with aa :gear

38 on a stub shaft 39 with which is rigid a pinion 40 meshing with a spur gear 4 l, the latter in turn meshing with a gear 42 on the driven shaft 23. This shaft also carries a pinion 43 meshing with and driving a spur gear 44 on a stub shaft 45, the latter having rigid therewith a pinion 46 meshing with the terminal drive gear 25.

The-motor 24 is of the shaded pole induction type operating at constant speed, and it will be understood that the speed-reducing drive train is so designed with respect to the speed of the motor-as to impart to the carriage IT a continuous traveling movement with the rate of advance determined by the spacing of the paired strands whichin turn is determined by the dents of the comb l2. As above indicated, the strands are veryrclosely spaced, the spacing being in the present instance on the order of 30 pairs to the inch. "Electric power may -be supplied to the motor in any suitable way. As herein shown, the carriage-is provided with :a trolley-consisting of a 3 pair of spring contact fingers L41 coasting with conductingflstripsil48.suitably mounted in a rail 5149 of insulating material and secured to the "frame member' [3, the strips being connected "withasuitable power source.

*Thespeed-reducing gear train for driving the carriage preferablyincludes means providing: a *disengageable driving connection between the carriage and its supporting frame. As shown-in "Fig. 5, the terminal drive gear 25 is mounted on stub shaftr36whi'ch is'mounted for axial'sliding vmovement inaframe standard 5| so as vetoJb'e xmo'vable intorand out :of .engagementwith the rack 5250.. For sliding the-shaft13fi endwise, a

' :hand leverv 52 is in the-present in'stance,- pivoted on the standard Stand operatively connected .with' the .shaft 3.6 in any suitable. or convenient manner. Means suchas. a ball detent 53* may be providedto hold the hand lever 52randtherefore the shaft '36 in either engaged; or disengaged relation tothe rack'25a.

Referringnow to the knot tying mechanism, the rotary; tying bil1'26 has ashank 26a journalled in .a block or: frame. member '54 so :as 'to beinclined upwardlytand?rearwardly fWith respect: to the direction of ztfflVi-El'tOf :the carriage: H. ,The gtyingtbilliis driven, continuously and directly from :thedriven shaftis by the gear "42 meshing with 1 asigear 55-fast on a shaft56. Also, fastyon this ,ShSL-ft-IiS aspiral. gear 51; meshing "with a pinion "-58rigid: with the tying bill. It will-beunderstood that the tying bill is of the ;conventional%type embodying means for clampingrand cutting off the ends ofthe strandsafter. they have been tied.

#An important feature of theknotter mechanismresi des in the presentation ,of successive pairs .ofstra-ndsto the tyingmbill. 'Asshownin Fig.8, the tying bill" isdisposed somewhat. below .the; plane of the sheet of strands and substantially "rearward :thereof. 1 In presenting themto the tying bill, the sepa-rator "21-is.-.actuated@in timed relation to the advance of :the carriage once: for each cycle of operation of the, tying bill and its function is to separate successive pairs .of strands; one pair'- for each cycle from the. sheets and to position thesame for-engagement by. the fingers 28, 2 9 which operate-to carry the strands into y position forengagement by the .tyingbill. -As'best shown in-Fig., the separator-21 comprises :a :picker' finger-59 mounted upon:- the liorwardierid .pf-oneiarmwfifl I :of a :bell crank =6 l the other arm of :which hasiarroller"follower 62% engaging=in asgroovet 63uofsa face camv64. "The latter is mounted -onrthe '1 :driven; shaft 23 and therefore operates continuously in ithB'TLadYKHCBJOf the mechanism carriage. The bell crank BI is supported on a pivot pin 85 suitably mounted in the carriage frame.

At its lower end the picker finger 59 is shaped (see Fig. 2) to provide a relatively narrow tip portion 68 and a shoulder 81, the latter bein formed on the forward side of the finger. When the finger is in its extreme elevated position, the tip portion 66 engages with the first pair of strands and as the finger moves downwardly serves to separate thispair of strands from the sheet s carrying the strands downwardly for engagement by the positioning finger 28. The finger 59 is preferably mounted so as to be capable of yielding slightly in a direction parallel to the plane of the sheet of strands to be tied together. Such yieldable mounting is employed so as to compensate for slight inaccuracies in the gear drivev for the carriage and particularly in view of the difficulty of making the rack 25a sufficiently accurate to insure a proper relationship at all times between the finger 59 and the paired strands. As shown, the finger 59 is mounted on a pivot pin 68 carried by the forward end of the arm 60 of bell crank 8| and by a bracket 69 secured to the arm (Fig. 2). Th upper end of the finger is received in a slot 19 cut in a plate H having a depending portion '12 secured to the arm 68. The slot is of a width somewhat greater than the width of the upper end of th finger and its rear edge forms a stop against which the finger is held by a coiled contractile spring 13. It has been found that by this construction, the finger is capable of yielding slightly to compensate for slight irregularities in the advance of the carriage.

To receive and retain pairs of strands successively separated from the sheet 3, the upper end of the arm 28 is rounded and shaped to form a rearwardly projecting hook 14 so that when the arm is in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 6 the separated strands are carried downwardly over the upper rear surface of the arm, the strands finally snapping rearwardly due to the tension thereon, into engagement with the hook so as to retain the strands in position when the finger 59 is withdrawn.

Arm 28 is fixed on a rockshaft I5 and is disposed in a longitudinalplane between the finger 59 and the tying bill. Also fast on the rockshaft, but on the opposite side of the tying bill is the arm 29. These arms 28 and 29 are arranged for actuation by the cam 16 in timed relation to the rotation of the tying bill for the purpose of positioning the paired strands for the tying operation. Cam l6 is-a face cam having a groove H for the reception of a roller follower 18 on an arm 19 rigid with the rockshaft l5. Herein the arm I9 is formed integral with the thread-positioning arm 29, being shown in broken lines in Fig. 2. Cam 16 is carried by a shaft 88 also having thereon a spur gear 8| driven from shaft 23 through the medium of spur gears 42 and 55 (Fig. 2). It will be understood that the groove of cam 18 is appropriately shaped to impart a rearward movement to the threadpositioning arms 28 and 29 immediately following the operation of the separator device 21, that is to say, upon the movement of a pair of strands downwardly from the sheet s into engagement with the hook 14 of the arm 28.

In their rearward movement by the arms 28, 29, the strands are guided into position with respect to the tying bill by means comprised, in the present instance, of two guides respectively disposed on opposite sides of the tying bill. One of these guides is formed by a notched plate 82 positioned inwardly of the tying bill and the otherguide is formed by. the stripper hook 30. As shown in Fig. 6, this hook is mounted upon a rockshaft 83 for actuation in a manner presently to be described for the purpose of withdrawing the knotted strands from the tying bill upon the completion of the operation. However, at the time the strands ar engaged by the arms 28 and 29 for movement rearwardly into position for engagement by the tying bill, the stripper hook 30 occupies a generally horizontal position. As best shown in Fig. 6, the forward portion of the arm is provided with a downwardly and rearwardly inclined guide surface 84 disposed somewhat downwardly and rearwardly with respect to the upper end of arm 28, which surface terminates in a shoulder 85 forming a hook for the reception of the strands as the latter are moved downwardly and rearwardly by the arm 28.

Guide plate 82 (Fig. 7) is mounted upon a rockshaft 86 for a purpose presently to appear, but when the strands are carried rearwardly by the arms 28, 29 this plate occupies a generally horizontal position, as shown in said figure. At its forward end it is provided with a relatively large V-notch formed by converging guide surfaces 81 and 88 which terminate in a narrow forwardly opening notch 89 having its rear end disposed somewhat rearwardly of the apex of the angle formed .by the tying bill 26 with its supporting shank 26a. It will b understood that the extent of rearward movement of the paired strands by the arms 28, 29 is sufiicient to carry the same into engagement with the tying bill for seizure in the rotation of the latter, in the conventional manner. In the present illustrative embodiment of. my invention, the knotter mechanism operates to unite the paired strands in a. knot of the socalled figure 8 type, the mechanism operatin in the general manner disclosed in Noling Patent No. 2,234,190 issued March 11, 1941. In tying such a knot, the tying bill equipped with the usual cam actuated shear blade is rotated through three revolutions for each tying cycle. During the initial (idle) revolution, the strands are carried rearwardly into position adjacent the bill; in the second revolution they are twisted about the bill; and in the final revolution they are seized, tied and severed in the conventional manner. It is accordingly necessary that the strands be shifted with respect to the bill so as to position them properly relative to the bill in eachrevolution thereof. It is for this reason that the guide plate 82 is mounted on the rockshaft 88. To govern the position of the guide, and therefore of the strands to be united, the guide plate, in the present embodiment, has rigid therewith a depending arm 99 bearing upon a cam 9| which is shaped to position the guide plate variously in order that a knot of the figure 8 type will be formed. Inasmuch as this particular type of knotter forms no part of the invention, it is deemed unnecessary to describe the same in detail. Sufiice it to say that the cam 8| is fast on the shaft 56 and driven in proper timed relation to the tying bill. Upon the completion of the tying operation, the knot is stripped from the tying bill by the actuation of the stripper hook 38 which as above. indicated is mounted on the rockshaft 83 (Fig.6). This rockshaft has rigid therewith a pinion meshing with a segment 94 on the upper end of a bell crank 95. The latter is arranged for actuation by cam means of the double roller follower type. Thus the bell crank has two arms 98 and 97 carrywarmers -lhg 'rollefifollowers ioricoacti'on respectively with *Tcams' 98fiand 98a omshaftiit. ;Th'e:-'cams:arezso ishaiped that aupon rthe :"completion :of Fthe ltying operation the hook' 3flsis swiing=fdownwardly and rearwardly. intothezposition' shown inzFigfll-iand shownfiirbrokhilins-iniFig.56

:It will be understood that iduringtheloperation 2 6i the tying mechanism the paired :strands :are -+grippe'd .bylthea plush clamp -bfirso aszto' maintain itheistr'andsiunderitensionzand yet be capableflof -Jslip'page in -iana'mount .isuificint' to s provi'delthe mecessary islaokzrequired". for: the tying. operation. At the r-icoinpleti'on Lof the latter ioperaltion, i-the strandsi'are.--severetl by the tying billgso thatithe iknottedrportions mayhefdrawn freely downward- .ly rearmndly :by :the stripper 239, rand the waste Iends are withdrawn rfrom ithe I'Jblll. JEIhe latter-functionis: performed by :a stripp errarmeQS located on the sideiif the'cbill oppositeithesstripperB'SUP ."nsashommlFigs. 2Jand 6) itzi's; mounted JOn Zth'GiShQfF-ESfOTE-IOtEtiOIlIiD a plane adjacent ithetplushxclamp t B TGEig. r1) so that when the -waste=errds=-haveibeen severedzby tha bill,. theyrare :w'ithdrawn -into iouti ofethe-way f n'osition tadjace'ntEthe clamp.

' To iavo'i'd snarling rand entanglement of "the "knotted 'strandsainime operation of the mecha- Enism, i means is :provi'ded'for seizing :the "knotted strands afterzthey have 'been :stripped i from the tying -'bill, andifo'r' carrying the: same forwardly insthe direction of itravel 'fof the:'me'oharnsmt'into aip'o'sition: such ?as-:t insure "that successive pairs "dfizstrands' will sli'dezpast the "knotter mechanism ink-the advance: of the latter. fAdditional'ly,-;I prefstrand supporting or hearingfsurface upon' which .theZ-knotted strandsare placedaby the aforesaid carrier.

. Referring nowitolfigsg-3," land 8,1the "carrier, inf-the present illustrative*emhodimehdzis:in the ..formiaof a notched. disk f I Bill-mounted. oni'thecar- ;.rlage. It is disposed ibetween the stripper 53-0 and :the co'nib 12 and its :peripheral surface "is adapted-to supportth'e paired strands in'v'er-t'rcally-ofisetrelationcto the hook when thezlatt'er'ocmipi'es the position: shownjnfFig. 3. The xliskris mounted on a stflbs'shaft 150i :driven 1from =the shafti58 :by 'meanssof-rspurgearing Hi2 Tithe :direction oi-rotation: heingzcounterclockwise as'zviewed in Figs. 3 and1 4.

The disk 1:00 "is i'formedwith izaeehordalanotch H3 whiehpwhenthe diskis in'thei position' shown inFig. 4, opens E forwardlyforlth'emeceptioniof the strands Whose'knotted ends areheldrby' the stripper--30. To assist inthe entryofthe strandseinto :the notch,' the portion 50f P the disk-immediately above the outer end 'ofithe notch is preferably benttowardsth'e strippertefito form-1a thread en- "gaging -p'rong 168d (Fig. #8) fsincezther-strands extend upwardly at an angle' from'zthe'stripper to the disk. it will be seen that .the fhent iportion, ror finger, pos'itivelyfengages iwith atheism-ands and serves taguide them. into the2notchgthea1rangement'beingsuch-ithat the strands aremeceivedin the notch just as the stripper 'ihooln startsdownwardly and rearwardly.

The strand supporting or 'bearing member which, as aboveindioateiiis operative-toengage and'support the strands .as they are Icarried::for-. wardl-y' by the=carrier disk fill iissherein in the form of a plate 104 mounted 'on'ithe .knotter earriage outwardly of :but lcloselysa'djacent'to' the disk. This plate has a wide opening or V-notch 105 in its upper forward portion providing -a bearing "surface 1 06 and an upwardly and- T01- i war'dlytfacing'finelined surface 101. 1 15s:thesknot med-strands arefca'rried forwardlysbyz the disk I100 they are laid upon the surface I I 06 slidin'gzrea r lwa'rdly thereon: in the advance of -the carriage and i 'finally 'eupon engagement with I the :surface I I'O'Ttheknottederids becomesdisengaigedi from" the iplate. Experience? has shown that by i this oom- :struction and "arrangement the? knotted stran'ds are effectually .prevented from be'coming snarled riAssumingthat the 'knotter mechanism isuapplied to 5 a 'Warp :knitting machine, and that a warp :beam is approaching the: state 0f fexhausition, the :operation may be summarized-"as :01-

lows:

' The *strands :of the old warp areasevered' 'a-djacent: the beamza'nd the-thread ends wound upon a suitable: core? in-an amou'nt' sufilcient tosprovide the necessary rslack length for placement.- in :the

*tYineJinech-anism. The core is i-temporarily placed *Jon a suitable; onconvenient support,'-the .old avarp; zbeam removed and .a, new warp beam placed in position. The-thread ends of the: new :beam: are then laid upon the bar I l andaextended -across' -tlie mechanism and clamped" in'the 'ol'amp 10. :In this operation, thet's'trands b of the new warprvare placed in the dents of the comb 12 which; serves to holdkthefistrands in 'olosely spaced parallel relation. The ..-s=trand-s of the old war-p are then :unwound lfrom :its core 5 and similarly positioned .upon' the bar I l and in .the clamp to, with one strand in eaoh "of "the :dents of -'--the comb. Thus, the strands of the'two warpsare arranged in: closely fan-d uniformly "spa-ced pairs and'tha strands of' each pair in contiguous; relati'on.

The'iearriage I of the typing 'm'e'chanism has beenzpositioned 1 at' the left I (as shown in Fig. 2) :of ?the combinedwarps "and at" the beginning of 40 the loperation the -control'. lever =52 is operated to causexgear fi toiengage 'wl-th raok :2 5a, thermotor having previously been started. The etyin'g mechanism operates in successive "cycles "upon successive pairs :of strands-10f th'e 'warps to he united. The operation 1 in each suchcyole l is as follows:

The separator fingerfifi"move-sfdownwairdlyd'nto engagement' with thezleadingqaairxof strands (Fig. 3) fand carries the latter :downwardly oausing .themto slide: over? the :nose of the. positioning; arm -ZS and:thenrearwardlylunder 'the hook '14 there of, mermitting return movement of the'zseparator. The r-arms .12'8'2an-d 28 are -then rocked: rearward- .ly to i'present" the :paired "strand-s Ito ZtheQtyingIbiII 55 :26. zIn this'movementgthestrandsiamez guidediby the inclined surf-aee'td .rof the notched stripper 30 and-also by the notched guide plate :82. As

shown-in Fig. 7, the-"arms-T28y2'93moveirealward- 1 ft-o an extentsomewhatrbeyondthe apex :oi'the 80 angle which the tying bill :form's withi'itssh ank -2-6a zand carryithel' strands Bin-to the hook of th'e stripper.

In the Lhrstant embodiment the tyin'glbill makes three revolutions-for each cycleof operation. At

the *beginningzofidb'e initial. revolution, thet-guide plate. i812 -.occu-pies -i'ts lowermost. :position :shown inzfullhnes in Fig; l andi-s-thue'positioned to'reoelve the strands as they are ...presented to' the underside of the tying bill. Thereafiter'theguide is raisedsufiiciently tozprese'nt the istrands i'for engagement" by ith'e bill so that in "the rota'tion df thetlatter :the strands are twisted or wrapped around-the bi ll.

D1iring the second revolution of the tying "bill 7 the guide plate is'lowered to 2. positionsuch as to place the strands in the path of the open bill for seizure thereby. As the bill continues its rotation, the strands are clamped and then severed as the bill closes. The knot is then formed and the stripper 30 operates to pull the formed knot from the bill. In the third or idle revolution of the bill, the guide plate is returned to its lowermost posit-ion preparatory to the next tying cycle.

Upon the completion of the tying operation, the waste end stripper 99 operates to carry the waste ends (now severed) and held by the clamp I8 into an out-of-the-way position, and the stripper 30 is moved by its cams 98 and 98a downwardly and rearwardly so as to strip the knot from the tying bill. In this latter operation, the strands are in engagement with the shoulder 85 of the stripper and the stripper moves into the broken line position shown in Fig. 6.

As the stripper starts its rearward and downward movement, the knotted strands enter the slot I03 in the carrier disk I which is rotating in .a counercl'ockwise direction as seen in Fig. 4. The entry of the knotted strands into the slot IE3 is insured by the fact that the stripper hook occupies a downwardly offset position relative to the periphery of the carrier disk, as shown in Fig. 8, so that the strands extend upwardly at a rather sharp angle from the stripper to the top of the disk and are thus disposed in the path of the lip I00a bent laterally from the plane of the disk. As the stripper approaches its rearward position, the knotted strands are carried forwardly by the disk (Fig. 4) and withdrawn from the stripper hook. At the same time, they are laid upon the bearing surface I06 of the member I04 on the carriage. The strands, sliding rearwardly upon this surface, finally become disengaged and are laid in an orderly manner along the side of the mechanism.

It will be observed that the tyin mechanism travels continuously at a uniform rate determined by the pitch of the strands, and that the tying means is driven continuously in such ad- Vance of the mechanism, the various parts thereof operating in timed relation to the advance so as to perform all the various operations necessary upon the successive pairs of strands. Due to the fact that the paired strands are very close ly spaced (on the order of 30 pairs to the inch) the paired strands must be successively separated from the combined warps and transferred to the positioning finger 28 for subsequent presentation to the tying means. It will be understood that the size of the shoulder 61 on the separator finger 59 is so chosen with respect to the pitch of the warp that only one pair of strands will be engaged in each separating operation.

When the final pair of strands has been tied, the control lever 52 is operated to disconnect the drive for the carriage and the latter returned manually to its initial or starting position.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an apparatus for operating upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a knotter mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands and tying means on the carriage including a rotary tying bill driven continuously in timed relation to the advance of the carriage, said tying bill being disposed at one side of the plane of the combined warps rearwardly thereof,

a separator movable in successive cycle into engagement with successive pairs of strands to shift them out of the plane of the warps transversely of the latter, and a thread positioner operatively connected with said driving means for movement thereby in timed relation to the rotation of the tying bill and in a rearward direction substantially parallel to the warp, said positioner acting upon the separated strands to carry the same rearwardly into operative association with the tying bill.

2. In a warp uniting machine, a pair of spaced parallel supports for supporting two warps in a substantially common plane, a comb adjacent one of said supports for positioning the warp strands in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage mounted for traveling movement between said supports and having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill on the carriage disposed at one side of the plane of the combined warps and having a driving connection with the carriage drive means to cause rotation of the tying bill in successive knot tying cycles, a separator active in each tying cycle to shift a pair of strands out of the plane of the warps, a strand positioner operative to seize the shifted strands and carry them in a direction substantially parallel to said warps, and means for guiding the strands in the last mentioned movement thereof to position the same with respect to the tying bill.

3. In an apparatus for operation upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill on the carriage disposed at one side of the plane of the combined warps and having a driving connection with the carriage drive means to cause rotation of the tying bill in successive knot tying cycles, a strand positioner, a separator acting in each tying cycle to shift a pair of strands out of the plane of the warps and to transfer the same to said positioner, the positioner being operative to carry the shifted strands in a direction substantially parallel to said warps, means for guiding the strands in the last mentioned movement thereof to position the same with respect to'the tying bill, and means for stripping the knotted strands from the tying bill.

4. In an apparatus for operating upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated witnthe pitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill on the carriage disposed at one side of the plane of the combined warps and having a driving connection with the carriage, drive means to cause rotation of the tying bill in successive knot tying cycles, a separator active in each tying cycle to shift a pair of strands out of the plane of the warps, a strand positioner operative to seize the shifted strands and carry them in a direction parallel to said warps, means for guiding the strands in the last mentioned movement thereof to position the same with respect to the tying bill, and means for stripping the knotted strands from the tying bill, the last aeifmrs;

l1 mentioned r' means :including a; stripperrmember: having-l aguide surface forming a: partof said guide means.

5. In' an apparatus-ior operation upon-twp warpssupported ina substantiallycommonplane. with the strands *thereof-i'arranged incloselyanduniformly spaced. pairs; a tying: mechanism com uniformly-spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a: carriage havingdrivermeansfor ad vancing the-same continuously at a uniform rate correlated .with the'pitch of the paired strands,-

a rotary tying bill mounted: on. the carriage,-

means for seizing successive pairs of strands and presenting them. to the tying bill, a. hook. for

seizing and withdrawing the knotted strands.

rearwardly from the tying bill, anda rotating disk having aperipheralbearing surface for sup u porting: the strandsad-jacent the hook with means forseizing the strands to carry them forwardly out of engagement with saidhook.

7; In an apparatus foroperationon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs; a tyingmechanismcom prising "a- -carriagehaving. drive means for advancingthesamecontinuously at a uniform 'ratev correlatedwith. the pitch of the paired strands,

knot tyingmeans mounted on the carriageand.

including a rotary tying "bill and drive '-means therefore, means for seizing successive pairs of strands and presenting them to the tying bill, means for stripping the knotted strands from the tyingbi-ll, and means for withdrawing the knotted strands from the strippingmeans including a rotar y element driven in timed relation to thestripping means and operative to engage the knotted strands and withdraw the same from the strip-- ping means,

8.. In; a warp, uniting'machine, means for supporting and positioning two warps in a substantially common plane with thestrands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs; a.

tying mechanism comprising "a. carriage having drive means for advancing'thesame continuously at a uniform rate correlated withthe pitch of the paired strands, knot tying meansmountedon the carriage and. including a rotary tying bill having a driving, connection with the carriage drive means for rotation thereby, means operative in thead-vance of the carriage to seize successive pairs of strands and. present them to the tying bill, and meansincluding a pair of members operative sequentially upon the knotted strands to withdraw themfrom the tying bill. and position themat one side of the carriage.

9. In .an apparatus. for operation upon two warpssupported in asubstantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing, the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated withthepitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill disposed at one side of Said warps 12 rearwardly; thereof: and .having ,a; driving connece tion :with "the :carriage i drive meanszfonrotatiorr thereby means operativeiin theradvance ofethe' carriage ;to: seize: successive. pairs of strands and.

present them-etc the: tyinggbill; meanstoperative;

uponzthe-knottedstrands to 'withdraw-themnfrom the tyingdoill and-Imposition the sameat'one sideof .the .carriaga-the last mentioned means ;includ:- ing a stripper member movable rearwardly with" respect-tozthe'travel of the carriage; and ail-member Y operative :tO withdraw: the knotted: strands.- from :the stripper in a forward: direction.

10:. In: an: apparatus for operation upon.- two warpssupported: in a: substantially: commonplane withithe strands :thereofarranged in 01056? mend-uniformly spaced pairs; aitying-mechanisrrr' comprising, a carriage-having drive means. for advancing; the same continuouslyat' a; uniform: rate correlatediwithathe pitch; of; the" pairedstrands,;a; rotary tyingjoill mounted; on the carriagee-and= having a driving connection-:with-".thecarriagerdrivemeans .for rotation thereby; means: operativedn advance-ofthe carriagetoseize sue-.- cessivepairs of strandsand present" themgto the tying: bill,;means operative upon theknotted strands tow-ithdraw them fromthe tying 'bill and: toiposition :thesame at one side of-the carriagei. the last mentioned means includinggastrippen member movablerearwardly with respect to-the travel of the carriageand a rotary diskhaving a notch therein. forrecei-vingthe knotted strands; coincident with the rearward movementrof the: stripper and serving to carry the same forwardly. into anouteof-the-waya position:

ll. Ina warp uniting-machine, means-fonsupr' porting and positioning two warps inv a .substan tiallygcommonplanewith the-strands thereof ar.- ranged in closely and uniformly spaced.pairs,-a1 tying mechanism comprising a carriage-havi-ng drive means for advancing.thesamecontinuously at a uniformrate correlated .with-gthe pitch of thepaired strands,- arotary tying bill .mounted' onethe carriage and having-1a driving connection; with the carriage drive meansfor.rotationthereby, means operative in-the advancebf thezcarriage to seize successive pairsof strands-and'present. them to the tying bill andmeans operative-upon theknotted strandsto withdraw them from the-- tying billand position the same: at one side of 5 the carriage, the last mentioned means, including alstrippedr-member movable rearwardlywith. re

spectto the travel. of the-carriage; a'device ope erable upon the-knotted strands coincident-with theerearwardmovement ofthe stripper; andv a. member mounted on .thecarriage adjacent: said.-

device and providing abearing-surface; said de-- vice being operative .to deliver the knotted strands.

onto said bearing-surface;

12; In... an apparatus for operating upon. two

warpssupported in: a substantially common. plane l with the strands thereof arranged in closely and.

uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism coma. rotary tying bill mountedonthe carriagaand.

means for,presentingsuccessive.pairs of strands to said tying bill including a separator finger mounted fonmovement transversely of the warp. and havinga. tip endprojecting into the plane of..the..warp.and spring means acting upon said finger and tending to. urge said tip end thereof f inthe direction of the warps.

13. In an apparatus for operating upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands including a stationary rack and a drive gear mounted on the carriage and meshing with said rack, and means for separating successive pairs of strands from the two warps preparatory to tying comprising a separator element reciprocated transversely of the warp and means yieldably pressing said element against the paired strands to compensate for irregularities in said rack.

14. In an apparatus for operation upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprisin a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill mounted on the carriage, and means for presenting successive pairs of strands to said tying bill including a separator finger mounted for reciprocation transversely of the warps and having a portion projecting at all times into the plane of the warp, said finger having a shoulder portion of a width sufiicient only to engage one pair of strands in the reciprocation of the member.

15. In an apparatus for operation upon two warps supported in a substantially common plane with the strands thereof arranged in closely and uniformly spaced pairs, a tying mechanism comprising a carriage having drive means for advancing the same continuously at a uniform rate correlated with the pitch of the paired strands, a rotary tying bill mounted on the carriage, and means for presenting successive pairs of strands to said tying bill including a separator finger mounted for reciprocation transversely of the warps and a positioning member movable substantially parallel to the warps and having a hooked end for seizing the separated strands and holding the same in withdrawn re- 14 lation to the warps upon the return of said semirator member.

16. A warp tying mechanism for warp knitting machines comprising, in combination, means for supporting two warps with the threads thereof in uniformly spaced relation including parallel supports for mounting on the machine in spaced relation lengthwise of the warps, one of said supports forming a guide for warp threads respectively leading to the knotter machine and to a supply source, the other one of said supports having associated therewith a stationary clamping means yieldably holding the end portions of the two warps, a comb adjacent the thread guiding support having dents for receiving pairs of threads from the respective warps and retaining the same in contiguous uniformly spaced parallel relation, a knotter carriage mounted for movement between said supports parallel thereto and having feed means for advancing the carriage at a uniform rate toward said warps. tying means on the carriage including a rotary tying bill, thread positioning means and means for actuating said tying bill and said positioning means in timed relation to the advance of the carriage, said positioning means being operative to carry successive pairs of threads into association with the tying bill and including a thread guide located between the tying bill and said stationary clamping means and actuated in timed relation to the rotation of the tying bill to shift the pairs of threads relative to the bill.

RUSSELL P. DRAKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,446,544 Marcellus Aug. 10, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 153,172 Switzerland May 15, 1932 

